Holding the dicine box, Seraphina Thorne turned around hesitantly.
"You... you’re going to the supplier?"
Ethan Sterling walked over and stopped in front of her.
"That place is in the countryside. When the supplier heard we were looking for him, he thought we were the police and got so scared he jumped out the window and ran. I hurriedly chased after him, but there was a small slope behind his house, and I fell right down it, hitting my arm on a branch."
Ethan lowered his face in guilt, his tone apologetic.
"I’m sorry, Seraphina. It was all my fault for being too hasty. If I had let Sean Hale bring more people, he wouldn’t have escaped."
Seraphina’s gaze swept over the bandage on his arm and landed on Ethan’s face.
So, it was all a misunderstanding on her part?
"But, you don’t have to worry too much, my dear!"
Ethan comforted her, placing his hands on her shoulders and giving her a smile.
"These past few days, I’ve been constantly investigating this matter. I’ve got all the details on that supplier. He has a son who goes to elentary school in the city, and his wife lives in the city too. I’ve already instructed Sean Hale to take more people to the school early next Monday. We’ll definitely catch his wife there, and then we can track down the supplier from her."
"So..." Seraphina’s heartbeat unintentionally quickened, "these past few days, you haven’t co to find because of this?"
"I didn’t want you to worry, affecting your preparation for the competition," Ethan raised his hand to smooth her hair and winked at her, "Besides... it’s not like I haven’t been here, you know!"
Seraphina was stunned, "You’ve been here?"
"Of course. Otherwise..." Ethan playfully pinched her nose, "how would I know what piece you’re competing with?"
"But..." Seraphina was puzzled, "I never saw you?"
"Seeing how focused you were on practicing the piano, I didn’t want to disturb you," Ethan half-closed his eyes, showing a blissful expression, "I love your arrangent of ’Seagull’—it’s truly beautiful and captivating!"
No wonder he knew her competition piece and that she had changed the key.
It turns out, he had been silently accompanying her these past days.
All this ti, he was helping her and trying to find evidence for Caleb Thorne, yet she misunderstood him.
Seraphina was filled with both guilt and confusion.
"Ethan, why are you so good to ?"
This little fool!
He’s already demonstrated it so clearly, and yet she still couldn’t figure it out?
"Why do you think?" Ethan replied with a mixture of amusent and resignation, "Of course, it’s because I want to win my wife’s heart, to make her cherish a little more!"
"But..." Seraphina bit her lip, "we’re not really married."
"What do you an by ’really married’?"
Ethan raised his left hand, bending one finger.
"Other couples have a marriage certificate; we have one too!"
He bent another finger.
"Other couples share a bed; so do we! Whether legally or practically, we have everything other couples have, except... we haven’t had a wedding. Is there any difference?"
"I... I an..."
Seraphina lowered her lashes, hesitated for a mont, then finally gathered the courage to look up.
"Do you... really like ?"
She pressed her lips together, her fingers holding the dicine box unconsciously tightening.
This question had been lingering in her mind for too long.
Seraphina no longer wanted to keep it bottled up. She wanted to know Ethan’s answer—an unequivocal answer, one she wouldn’t have to guess.
Ethan saw her nervousness and the uncertainty flickering in her eyes.
He suddenly felt a little heartache.
Afraid of scaring her, he had always restrained himself, suppressing his thoughts, trying to approach her bit by bit.
He never thought his cautiousness would make her doubt herself.
"My dear, I know we’re not quite like other couples, but my feelings for you are no less than any husband has for his wife! Now, listen carefully..."
He raised his left hand, gently stroking her cheek with his fingertips.
Ethan took a deep breath, his tone unusually solemn and earnest.
"Seraphina, I like you!"
I like you!
Four words, like a thunderclap, resounded in Seraphina’s ears.
All those speculations, doubts, uncertainties...
Finally, she had a genuine answer.
Seraphina stood there, stunned and still sowhat puzzled.
"Why do you like ?"
"Do you need a reason to like soone?" Ethan countered her question.
Seraphina shook her head gently, "I don’t know."
In her limited life experience, she’d only been in a relationship with Adrian Chamberlain.
Initially, she had agreed to be with him because he persistently pursued her, or because her psychologist suggested she try interacting with boys...
Looking back now, she wasn’t even sure.
Was her relationship with Adrian really about love, or was it because she just wanted that feeling of being in love?
"Then..." Ethan gently lifted her chin, looking into her eyes, "can Mrs. Sterling give a chance to date ?"
If any other man had asked her the sa question, Seraphina would have refused.
From the day she broke up with Adrian Chamberlain, Seraphina had no plans to fall in love again.
But Ethan wasn’t like other n.
Her relationship with him had long surpassed that of ordinary couples.
He’s saved her life; he has given her an unforgettable first mory in life...
She owes him too much, and...
Even though she didn’t want to admit it, she had to acknowledge that she liked him.
For him, she was willing to make an exception.
Even if it ant getting hurt again.
Taking a deep breath, Seraphina nodded gently.
"Okay."
Ethan grinned, lifting her up with the dicine box in his embrace, spinning around in the hallway.
"Hey..." Seraphina said, trying to remind him, "Be careful of your injury, put down!"
Putting her back on the floor, Ethan smiled warmly as he gazed at her face.
"Just so we’re clear, there’s no backing out!"
"But, I have one condition." Seraphina lifted her face, "If, soday you no longer like , or... you fall for soone else, you can just tell , and I’ll leave voluntarily, without any entanglents. You must not lie to !"
Having learned from her experience with Adrian Chamberlain, this ti she wanted to lay everything out beforehand.
Knowing she’s been hurt by Adrian Chamberlain once, and that she had no confidence in him.
Feeling her mood, Ethan’s heart ached silently as well.
"Alright, I promise you. But you also have to agree to one condition of mine?"
"What condition?"
Ethan bent down, leaning close to her ear.
"Tonight, can I sleep in your room? I’m afraid my wound will get infected and I’ll have a fever overnight."
"Forget it..." Seraphina raised her hand to push him away, "Didn’t you just say my bed is too small?"
Still smiling, Ethan took the dicine box from her hands, "No worries, it’s warr when we sleep close together in winter."
Seraphina wanted to roll her eyes at him, but Ethan lowered his head, kissing her once again.
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